Stamp detaching and affixing machine.



Patented Aug. 5, 1902. J. A. OHAMBLISS.

STAMP DETACHING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 20, 1900. Renewed Jan. 18, 1902.)

4 Sheats-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

W/ TNE SSE S A T70 Y8 THE Nonms PEYERS co. PHOTO-LIYNO., vusumm'ou, u c

Patented Aug. 5, 1902. J. A. CHAMBLISS.

STAMP DETACHING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Ju1y'20, 1900. Renewed J's-n. 1B, 1902.)

4 Shaets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 5, I902. J. A. CHAMBLISS.

STAMP DETACHING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 20, 1900 Renewed Jan. 18, 1902.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

INVENTO/j W AT EYS v A .7 l-j n I l IIII'IIIIFIH 2 2% .t.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES.

No. 706,387. Patented Aug. 5, I902.

J. A. CHAMBLISS. STAMP DETACHING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 20, 1900. Renewed Jan. 18, 1 902.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

INVENTOI? 7% n W/ TNESSES ma Non ms PETERS 0b.. PHoTauwo. WASHINGTON. u.c.

nuTnn STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN A. CHAMBLISS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

$TAMP DETACHING AND AFFlXlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,387, dated August5, 1902.

Application filed July 20, 1900. Renewed January 18, 1902. Serial No.90,284. (No model.)

To a. whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. OHAMBLIss, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StampDetaching and Affixing Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to postage, revenue, or other stamp detaching andaflixing machines, the same being an improvement over the inventioncovered by my Patent No. 598,263, dated February 1, 1898, in which onestamp at a time is detached from a sheet of stamps and applied to theenvelop, package, or other article to be stamped. In the said patentedmachine none of the movements are automatic; and the object of thepresent invention is to render the parts automatic, the steps ofapplying the moisture for securing the stamp, shifting thestamp-detaching parts from one stamp to the next, returning the carriageto starting position, and advancing another strip of stamps being allautomatically performed until the entire sheet is used up.

A further object is to enable rapidity, so that the moment a sheet isstarted the automatic movement goes on as fast as the letters can bethrust in position and the plunger properly struck, there beingpractically no limit to the rapidity of the operation except in theexpertness of the operator.

One of the striking features of the present invention is the moisteningof the envelop or wrapper itself at the place where the stamp is to beapplied in lieu of moistening the stamp directly, thus avoiding thegumming of any of the parts, including the moistener, so that themachine is maintained in neat and serviceable condition,whereby thefacility for turning out the work in hand is increased.

To these ends the present invention consists of a stamp detacher andaffixer which comprises means forholdinga sheet of stamps, means forshifting the sheet progressively, a carriage, means for guiding thecarriage, said carriage having an aperture or throat for receiving thearticles to which the stamps are to be affixed, a plunger mounted on thecarriage for detaching and affixing the stamps, means for supplying thenecessary moisture, and means for automatically returning the plungerand for automatically shifting the carriage progressively from one stampto the next.

The invention consists, further, of means for causing the automaticreturn of the carriage to normal or starting position and means forsimultaneously and automatically feeding forward a row of stamps.

The invention consists also of a box or case in which the sheets ofstamps are secured and means acting on the uppermost sheet for feedingit forward to the feed-rolls.

The invention also consists of certain more or less important detailsand combinations of parts, to be hereinafter described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of myimproved machine for detaching and affixing stamps. Fig. 2 is asideelevation, the stam p-holding box being partly in section. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse sect-ion on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, only a portion ofthe stamp-holdin g box being shown. Fig. 4 is a plan View, partly insection, of carriage and automatic feed mechanism. Fig. 5 is a frontelevation of the machine, the upper portions being broken away, showingthe end position of the carriage when it is just starting to return tonormal position. Fig. 6 is an under side detail view of the pushermechanism for moving a sheet of stamps to the feed-rollers. Figs. 7, 8,and 9 are details of the carriage-feed mechanism, Fig. 7 being on line 77, Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the moistener, enlarged; andFig. 11 is a sectional detail of the spring-drum for acting on thecarriage-feed mechanism.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout thedrawings.

I will describe the parts of the machine in sections according to thefunction which they perform to attain the ultimate resultthat of fixinga stamp on an envelop or the like.

The stamp-holding bow or casalhis comprises an oblong box-body A, (seeFigs. 1 to 3,) which is provided with a lid A, that is hinged to oneside of the same and is preferably locked thereto, so as to guardagainst the removal of the stamps from the box by any unauthorizedperson, the box being opened only for the purpose of charging the boxagain after an entire pile of sheets has been used up. In the box-bodyAis arranged a springcushioned platform A which conforms to and fitsnicely yet movably in the same and upon which platform the sheets ofstamps are placed. Pivoted within the box, below the platform A is apair of lazy-tongs a a, member a being pivoted to a projection a on therear end of the platform at a and member a being pivoted to the box at abelow pivot a The other forward ends of the lazy-tong members a a arefree and bear slidingly upon the bottom of the box and against the underside of the platform A whereby the latter is always caused to have aposition parallel with the bottom of the box, so that it cannot bindtherein. For cushioning the platform only one spring A is needed, whichspring is confined between the rear end of the platform and the bottomof the rear end of the box and is coiled about a centering-pin Aprojecting upward from the box-bottom. An end plate 1) extends acrossthe rear of the inside of the box and is provided with a hole 2), intowhich is adapted to snap a locking-pin b projecting from a spring 5which extends down from the platform A said pin holding the platformdown while the sheets of stamps are being placed in position. The pin 19is released by means of a releasing-pin b, which projects from thehinged rear end or door A of the box A, said releasing-pin striking thesaid pin b when the door A is closed and pushing it out of the hole b,whereupon the platform A rises under the actuation of the spring A andmoves the sheets of stamps up against a presser-shoe A fixed on theunder side of the lid A, so that the stamps are held between the saidparts lightly, but yet with a certain pressure. At the front end of thebox the same is provided with a transverse aperture O, on opposite sidesof which are fixed the converging guide-lips 0 O located inside the box,and converging guidelips C 0 located outside the box, so that the topsheet of stamps may be suitably fed through said aperture to the outsideof the box and one row of stamps at a time projected beyond the upperand outer guide-lip C The sheet-feeding mechanism.This mechanismconsists of two parts, the first for imparting an initial movement tothe upper sheet of stamps of the pile and the second (the main part) forprojecting a row of stamps from the box, so that one stamp after anothermay be stripped from said row, to which ends there are arranged afeeding device on the lid A and a pair of feed-rolls in the aperture 0of the box. Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, D is a rock-shaft journaled insuitable bearings D on the under side of the lid A, and from whichproject arms D which are connected by a rod D to which are pivoted thelinks D which are connected by a rod D the ends of which rod are guidedin slots 01 of fixed guide-plates D on the under side of said lid.Pivoted to the rod D is a series of suitable spaced pushers cl, providedwith downwardly-projecting spur-points d which are held in properrelative position to each other and to the top sheet of stamps byresting the free forward ends of the pushers on the crossrod D The saidpushers are separated from each other by spacers d arranged on thecross-rod D Shaft D is rocked by means of a segment D fixed thereon andprotruding through a longitudinal slot D in the lid A. By sweeping thefingers along the lid or pressing back on the protruding portion of thesegment, which is milled for the sake of easy action, the segment andthe shaft D are rocked and the spurs of the pushers caused to lightlytake onto the uppermost sheet of stamps and move it a short distanceforward, the lower sheets being retarded by a claw d fixed to the hingedend or door A the spurs d of the pushers tearing the upper sheet awayfrom said claw, but not disturbing the lower sheets. The sheet of stampsis not injured by claw d as the rear ends of the sheets have parts ofthe border-strip remaining.

Arranged so that their contact-surfaces meet in the apertures O of thebox A is a pair of feed-rollers E E, which are preferably clothed withrubber or other soft material, as shown in Fig. 3, so as not to abradethe stamps and to have a certain grip thereon. To these feed-rollers E Ethe top sheet of stamps is delivered by the initial feed mechanism, Fig.6, so that the consecutive rows of stamps may be projected therebythrough the holding-box. The feed-rollers and their operating gear areshown in Figs. 1 to 4:. Intermeshing pinions 6 e are mounted on theshafts of the rollers E E, and the shaft e of the upper roller isextended and provided with a milled head or knob. 6 whereby the rollermay be turned by hand, so that the first row of stamps can be projected,the remaining rows of the sheet being projected progressively andautomatically. The automatic motion of the feed-rollers E E is impartedthrough the medium of the return movement of the carriage, to bedescribed subsequently, which carriage is provided with a rack thatengages a worm-wheel E mounted on a journal-pin e projecting from thebox A below the feed -rollers, and which worm-wheel carries at one sidea spring-actuated pawl e Fig. 11, which takes against a shoulder e onthe hub of a pinion c, that meshes with an intermediate gear-wheel Emounted on a journal-pin e projecting from the box A, said gear-wheelmeshing in turn with the lower pinion e of the feed-rollers. When theworm-wheel E turns in one direction, the pawl thereon has no action onthe gear, so that the feed-rollers remain stationary; but when theworm-wheel turns in the opposite direction the said pawl takes againstshoulder c and turns the feed-rollers sufficiently to project one row ofstamps.

Provision is made for feeding exactly one row of stamps to properposition by arranging the shaft e of the upper feed-roller so that itmay turn loosely. To this end the bearing-boxes for shaft e are madewith movable upper portions f, which are connected at their forward endsby means of links f and studs f 2 with an oscillatory shaft F, journaledin suitable bearings in the box A and which at one end is provided witha small handle F for rocking it. The movable bearing portions faremaintained in proper position by means of pinsf (see dottedlines, Fig.2,) which project from the fixed box or bearing portions f and entersuitable holesin the bearing portions f. Said movable bearing portions fare held against the fixed portions f by means of a suitable spring f(see dotted lines,) which bears constantly upon a lug f projecting fromshaft F, and acts on the links f, so as to force the movable bearingportions f toward the fixed portions f and hence cause the feed-rollersE E to bite or positively grasp the sheet of stamps for enabling thehand or automatic feeding of the same. Now when the first row of stampsis projected to proper position by the hand turning of the feed-rollerthe driving-gear must be adjusted and set so that after the stamps ofsaid first row are detached the next row will be auto maticallyprojected to the proper distance for being detached. This is effectuatedby reversing the direction of movement-that is,

contrary to the forward feed of the feed-roll-- ers-and turning theshoulder (2 against the pawl 6 which limits the motion in thatdirection. While turning the feed-roller back the positive grip of thesame on the sheet of stamps must be loosened by depressing the handle orlever F, and thereby raising the movable bearing portion f, the operatorat the same time catching hold of the projecting row of stamps. Thefeed-rollers can now be turned back without tightly gripping upon thesheet of stamps, and upon the automatic feed of the sheet each row willbe projected to proper position until the entire sheet is used.

Stamp-detaching mecham'sm.This comprises a carriage G, (see Figs. 1 to5,) which is preferably made of a suitable cored metallic casting and isguided at the front of the machine on a transverse guide-rod H, which ismounted in parallel brackets h, which extend from a front base-plate H,to the rear of which the stamp-holding box is fixed in any suitablemanner. The carriage G is also guided at its lower end by means ofguide-rollers h which run in a transverse channel-rail H project ingfrom the back of the base-plate H, said carriage being also providedwith a pair of grooved rollers h h and a roller 71 which rollers travelon opposite sides of the guiderod H, all three rollers 71. h 7L2 beingarranged triangular-1y, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to act conjointly withthe lower rollers h in securing the steady travel of the carriage. Fixedto the top of the carriage by means of suitable set-screws g in a planeapproximately that of the aperture 0 of the box A is a plate G, so thatwhen a row of stamps is projected it will rest on said plate. Theset-screws g also pass through and secure a top plate G (plate G mayhence be termed the bottom plate,) which is provided with a roundorifice g to receive the finger of the operator, so that pressure may beapplied to the sheet of stamps when adjusting the feed-roller-drivinggear, and said top plate is also provided with an oblong opening 9 intowhich the stamp-detaching plunger I, to be referred to later, moves.Just below and in line with the plunger-opening g the hardened-steelplate G is formed, as shown in Fig. 3, with two cutting or beveled dieedges 9 which in conjunction with plunger I detach the stamps. Thecarriage is so positioned relatively to the machine and its movements sodefined as that the plunger I, opening 9 and cutterdie g all registerwith the first stamp and successively with the remaining stamps of aprojecting row as the carriage is intermittently reciprocated across thefront of the stamp-holding box. Plunger I consists, preferably, of anoblong block of steel, which is secured by means of a side set-screwt'to the lower end of a reciprocatory rod 1, which is provided at top witha large hand contact disk, knob, or head I and is guided in a bearing2', located above the plunger-opening g and formed in an angular guideportion or arm J, extending upwardly and inwardly from the carriage Gr.At the under side of the knob I there is fixed a spiral spring 1 whichserves to cushion the plunger when depressed.

A work-table K is supported on the carriage, below the plunger I andstationary cutterdie 9 in such position as that when the corner of anenvelop which is to be stamped is pushed along the table under the saiddetaching devices it will receive the detached stamp, moistened ashereinafter described, at the proper point. The said work-table K ismounted yieldingly on the carriage by pivoting it at its rear end at andsubjecting it to the action of a spring which is fixedto the carriageand projects forwardly, so that its free end bears on the forward underside of the said table. ioning of the work-table permits the same toaccommodate itself to various thicknesses of envelops or packages whichmay be thrust in to be stamped.

Table K is arranged under a suitable moistening device, and its yieldingmovement is mainly to permit different thicknesses of envelops or otherarticles to be thrust under the moistenin g device into the throat oraperture between the top plate G and the work-table.

The moistemng devtca-Carriage G also supports a moistening device, whichconsists of a cylindrical water-reservoir L, supported by means of anangle-bracket L, secured to the upper part of the carriage. (See Figs.1, 3, 4, and 10.) The reservoir L projects horizontally parallel withthe guide-rod H, or, in other words with the line of movement of theThis yielding and spring-cushcarriage, and is provided with afilling-orifice closed by a screw-cap Z. At its outer end the reservoiris provided with a perforated nipple Z, having a Vent Z which iscontrolled by a screw-valve Z for letting in more or less air or forclosing the vent entirely. The inner end of the reservoir L is formedwith an enlargement L having a bottom oblong opening or slot m, in whicha moistening-roll M, of felt, is arranged to snugly turn, a portion ofsaid roll protruding through said slot m, so that the upper right-handcorner of the envelop or other article which is thrust 'into stampingposition will be moistened by contacting with and rotating said roll,nomoisture whatever being applied by the machine directly to the stamp,thereby avoiding gumming, dirtying, or clogging of the machine by themucilage or gum on the stamps coming off upon it or by the stampssticking to each other or to any part of the machine. The moistureapplied to the corner of the article to be stamped is sufficient for thestamp,which is detached from the sheetand pressed by plungerIonto thesaid article. Said moistening-roll M has its shaft mounted in springyhangers m, arranged on the reservoir and which may be depressed byset-screws m which turn in suitable screw-bearings m (see Fig. 10,) sothat the moistening-roll may be adjusted to take up Wear or shrinkageand also, in the first instance, to serve in fitting said roll to thesurrounding edge of the opening. To permit the rolls adjustment, itsshaft m passes through short slots m in the reservoir, as indicated insaid figure in dotted lines.

- The carriage-feeding mechanism.-This is the last portion of theinvention as described and comprises devices mounted on the baseplate Hand on the carriage G.

N indicates a feed-worm, which is j ournaled in bearings in the bracketsh of base-plate H and is parallel with the guide-rod H, and O is awinding-shaft journaled also in bearings of the-said brackets parallelwith worm N and on one end of which is firmly attached the cylindricalspringbarrel P, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 to 5 and 8 and 9. Thefeedworm N has its right-hand end extended under the spring-barrel toreceive a small pinion n, which meshes with a larger gear-wheel O,mounted loosely on the winding-shaft O and confined between bracket hand the barrel P. Confined within the barrel P is a coiled spring P, oneend of which is fixed to the hub of said gear-wheel 0 (see Fig. 9)'andthe other end of which is fixed to the inner surface of said barrel, thetendency of said spring when under tension being to rotate the feed-wormN. Carriage G is caused to travel in one or the other direction by meansof the feed-worm, the said carriage to that end bearing at its lowerpart a horizontal extension Q, which supports two antifrictionrollers g,which are mounted at an angle to each other, so as to mesh and travel inthe spiral groove of the feed-worm. Guided in a suitable vertical way orgroove r in the carriage G is a toothed actuating-bar R, which is fixedat its upper end to the knob or disk of the plunger I, and the teeth rof which mesh with teeth-like ribs 0 on the winding shaft 0, so that thedepression of the plunger produces simultaneously the rocking of thewinding-shaft on its axis and the rotation of the barrel P in onedirection, its spring turning it back in the other direction and causingthe plunger to rise, as hereinafter described.

Inasmuch as the spring in the barrel P is wound up step by step by therepeateddepressions of the plunger I, some provision must be made forpreventing the unwinding of the spring until the reaction thereof isneeded for returning the carriage to original position. To this end theside of the barrel has thereon a volute cam 19, along both sides ofwhich there is arranged to work a pin 19, projecting inwardly from theend of a controlling-arm 19 which is fixed loosely on the extendedright-hand end of the guide-rod H, the hnbp of said arm also having aprojecting detent 19 which takes at its extremity.

against the squared side of a tooth p on the periphery of the barrel P.A spring 19, fixed to a collarp bears at its free end on the detent 19so as to force the arm 19 toward the cam 10.

At the left-hand end of the feed-worm N and the winding-shaft O isarranged, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7, a pair of intermeshinggear-wheels S S, the former being rigidly fixed on the worm N and thelatter being loose on the winding-shaft, said gear S being confinedbetween the bracket h and an enlarged cylindrical hub S fixed on thewinding-shaft, so as to have a definite amount of play on the same. Thehub S has a portion of its periphery removed, so as to provide a squareshoulder or tooth S against which takes the toe of a spring-actuatedpawl S pivoted to one side of the loose gear-wheel S, so that the saidhub S the loose gear-wheel S, and its pawl S will form a sort of clutch,the said gearwheel forming the shiftable member and the hub the fixedmember thereof. WVhen the winding-shaft O is turned from right to left,Fig. 7, which is due to the depressing of the rack-bar B, it has nopositive action on the gear S; but when the said shaft 0 is turned inthe reverse direction by the action of the spring P in the barrel P, ashereinafter described, the shoulder or tooth S bears directly on the endof the pawl S, and the gear S is also turned. Pivoted to the inner sideof the left-hand bracket h is a spring-actuated pawl S the upper end ofwhich is adapted to take against a tooth S on the hub S of the loosegear-wheel S, the inward movement of the pawl being limited by astop-pin S which projects from the said bracket.

The object of the pawl S and tooth S is to prevent overrotation of thegear S, due to the reverse motion of the feed-worm N, said worm causingthe gear S to rotate in opposite direction to that caused by thewindingshaft 0.

On fully pressing down the plunger, and hence the actuating-bar R, arotary movement is imparted to the winding-shaft O and barrel P in thedirection of the arrow on Fig. 2, which movement releases the pin 19 ofthe controlling-armp from behind the volute cam 19 and causes the outersurface of the said cam to bear upon the pin 1) and move the arm 79 fromthe position shown in full lines, Fig. 8, to that shown in dotted lines,at the same time moving the detent p out of the path of the tooth 19 asshown, so that when the downward pressure on the actuating-bar isremoved the reverse rotation of the barrel will not cause the tooth p toengage with the pawl until one full rotation has been completed. Duringthe described forward rotation of the barrel P the actuating-spring Ptherein is coiled tighter and cannot react on the gearwheel 0, owing toits geared connection with the feed-worm; but when the downward pressureon the bar R is removed the actuating spring turns the barrel P andshaft 0 in reverse direction, it rotates the intermeshing gears S S byreason of the engagement of the shoulder or tooth S and the pawl S, itrotates the feed-worm N, causing the carriage to advance to the nextposition, and by the pinion n at the end of worm N it gives a slightturn to the gear-wheel O in the same direction as the barrel P, so thatthe tension of the actuating-spring P is but partially let off, the saidspring being locked in tension by the rengagement of the detent p withthe tooth p on barrel P and by reason of the toothed actuating-bar Rhaving reached the limit of its upward movement. Each full depression ofthe plunger shifts the carriage in the described manner to the nextposition and stores up still further power in the actuating-spring P.The detent p and tooth p positively and accurately define and limit themovement of the barrel P and form a positive stop against furtherrotation of the said barrel, which is far preferable to relying on thelimit of upward movement of the toothed actuating-bar, which might beused for such purpose.

For automatically returning the carriage to first position there isarranged under the same a longitudinally-shiftable slide-rod T, guidedin the brackets h, and to which is adjustably fixed in a position whichwill be under the actuating-bar R in the last position of the carriage acam projection T, against which the beveled lower end 7' of the bar R isadapted to strike to shift said rod T. The left-hand end of theslide-rod T carries an upwardly-projecting finger T the up erend ofwhich takes constantly into an annular groove 75 in the clutch member orgear-wheel S. On the carriage extension Q, is a contact pin or abutmentt, which in the left-hand position of the carriage is in contact withfinger T When the carriage has been moved by the repeated depression ofthe rack-bar R until it arrives at the end of its movement to the right,Fig. 5, the final depression of said rack-bar forces its beveled lowerend r against the cam-piece T and shifts the sliderod T in the directionof the arrow and correspondingly causes the finger T to shift thegear-wheel or movable clutch member S, so that the pe wl S will be movedclear of the notched or toothed portion of the hub or enlargement S dueto the fact that the bottom of the notch or cut-away of the hub, whichis formed to provide the shoulder or tooth S has an outward slant orinclination to the smooth periphery of the hub, as indicatedin dottedlinesin Fig. 1. As soon as the pressure on the knob I is released theactuatingspring P turns the gear-wheel O in the direction of the arrow,Fig. 2, and reverses the direction of rotation of the feed-worm N,thereby returning the carriage to initial position, said carriage onarriving in the said position striking by its abutment 15 against thefinger T and causing the latter to shift the gear-wheel S back in propermesh with gear-wheel S and bringing the pawl S back into engagement withthe tooth or shoulder S The described pawl S and tooth S will be broughtinto engagement and the rotation of the gear S by gear S stopped at apoint corresponding to the initial or starting position of the carriage.

At the back of the carriage G there is arranged a horizontal rack-bar U,having rearwardly-extending tapering pins U, (shown partly in full andpartly in broken lines in Fig. 4E and also shown in Figs. 2 and 3,)which pins take one after the other into or mesh in the successivenotches of the worm-wheel E of the stamp-feeding mechanism, anintermittent rotation being thereby imparted to said worm-wheel duringthe right-hand intermittent or step-by-step motion of the carriage,which turns the pawl e free of its tooth or shoulder and produces noresponding movement in the sheet-feeding mechanism; but during theautomatic return of the carriage to its initial position thefeed-rollers E E are rotated so as to project another row of stamps.When the carriage returns, it brings the successive pins U in mesh withthe successive notches of the wheel E so that the latter turns until thecarriage stops, and this turning of the worm-wheel is sufficient tocause, as stated, the protruding of' another row of stamps.

The actuating-bar R carries, as shown in Fig. 3, a pivotedfreely-hanging or pendent pawl R the tooth of which takes into thenotches of a ratcl1et-wheelR ,which is mounted on the shaft of themoistening-roll M and imparts an intermittent movement to the same, soas to positively turn it so that the next article to be stamped will bebrought in contact with a freshly-moistened portion of the said roll.

Briefly stated, the use and operation of the machine are as follows: Thereservoir L is supplied with water and the carriage G moved to itsinitial left-hand position. The stampholding box, which in the exampleshown has a capacity for half-sheets of stamps, so that there will befive stamps across,is now charged with stamp-sheets, a pile, say, offifty sheets, and the box then closed and locked. The operator nowapplies one hand to the segment D at the top of the box and with theother hand takes hold of the turning knob e of the feed-rollers andfirst gives a partial turn to said segment and then rotates thefeed-rollers E E in the proper direction, so as to project the first rowof stamps through the aperture C until it will register with the plungeropening 9 in plates G Before starting to work the knob e is turned backa partial rotation until it can turn no longer for the purpose of alwayspermitting the succeeding rows of stamps to be automatically fed to theproper distance, as previously described, the operator pressing onefinger through opening g on the stamps and depressing handle F, so thatthe sheet will not be moved back by the feed-rollers, the grip of whichon the sheet is loosened. The machine is now ready for work, and theenvelops or other articles to be stamped being at hand the upperright-hand corners of the same are successively introducedinto themachine. Upon introducing an envelop its stamp receiving corner ismoistened by the moistening-roll M, such corner being received in theangle formed by the angular cutting-die The operator now presses onehand down upon the knob or disk 1 and thereby causes the plunger todetach the first stamp and press it onto the moistened corner of theenvelop, such downward movement imparting a simultaneous downwardmovement to actuating-bar R and operating the carriage-feed mechanism,as previously described, so as to automatically shift the carriage tothe next position and bring the plunger in line with the next stamp. Thestamped article is now removed, another one inserted and moistened, theplunger depressed, a stamp detached and applied to the article, thecarriage automatically shifted, and so on step by step until thecarriage arrives at the end of its movement at the righthand side.Having arrived at the end of its movement, as stated, and anotherarticle stamped, by depressing the plunger the carriage will, uponrelease of the plunger, return automatically to its initial or left-handposition. When the last row of stamps of the sheet is protruded fromaperture C, it will be fed and held in position by the feed-rollsgrasping the attached portion of the border of the sheet, and this rowhaving been used up the border portion is forced out and the next topsheet fed out and used up, and so,

\ on until the stamp-holding box has to be charged again.

A machine of the described class is of especial advantage in commercialhouses,to man ufacturers, professional men, and others who send out moreor less mail-matter, as the stamps are fed out automatically,so thatthere is no unnecessary waste of time and labor, the automatic movementof the machine going on as fast as the envelops or other articles can bethrust under the stamps and the plunger depressed by hand or anysuitable power device.

Various changes evident to skilled mechanics may be made in my inventionWithout departing from the scope and spirit thereof, and I thereforedesire it understood that I do not limit myself to the mechanism shownand described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stamp detaching and aflixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, a carriage provided with an aperture orthreat for receiving the articles to be stamped, means for guiding saidcarriage, a plunger mounted on the carriage, means for supplyingmoisture, and means for automatically returning the plunger and forautomatically shifting the carriage progressively from one stamp-to thenext, substantially as set forth.

2. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, means for automatically shifting thesheet progressively, a carriage provided with an aperture or throat forreceiving the articles to be stamped, means for guiding said carriage, aplunger mounted on the carriage, means for supplying moisture, and meansfor automatically returning the plunger and for automatically shiftingthe carriage progressively from one stamp to the next, substantially asset forth.

3. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, a carriage provided with an aperture orthroat for receiving the article to be stamped, means for guiding saidcarriage, a plunger-mounted on the carriage, means for supplyingmoisture, means for automatically returning the plunger and forautomatically shifting the carriage progressively from one stamp to thenext, and means for causing the automatic return of the carriage toinitial position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, means for shifting the sheetprogressively, a carriage provided with an aperture or throat to receivethe articles to be stamped, means for guiding said carriage, a plungermounted on the carriage, means for supplying moisture, means forautomatically shifting the carriage progressively from one stamp to thenext, and means for causing the automatic return of the carriage toinitial position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a stamp detaching and affixing ma chine, the combination of aplatform for supporting a sheet of stamps, means for retaining the stamps, means for automatically shifting the position of the sheetprogressively, a carriage having an aperture or throat for receiving thearticles to be stamped, a suitably operated and spring-returned plungerconnected to and movable with the carriage for detaching and affixingthe stamps, mechanism operated automatically by the plunger forantomatically shifting the carriage progressively from one stamp to thenext, and means for limiting or determining the extent of such movement,substantially as set forth.

6. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, a platform for supportinga sheet of stamps, means for automatically shifting the position of thesheet progressively, a carriage having an aperture or throat forreceiving the articlesto which the stamps are to be affixed, ahand-operated and spring-returned plunger connected to and movable withthe carriage for detaching and affixing the stamps, mechanism operatedautomatically by the plunger for automatically shifting the carriageprogressively from one stamp to the next, and means for locking thecarriage momentarily to prevent accidental movement, substantially asset forth.

7. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of aplatform, means for feeding the sheet of stamps forward, a carriageguided transversely of the platform, said carriage comprising amoistener, and means for detaching the stamps and pressing them onto thearticles to be stamped, and means for automatically returning thecarriage to initial position, substantially as set forth.

8. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of aplatform, a carriage guided transversely of the platform,and comprisinga moistener, a Work-table for su pporting the articles to be stamped,and means for detaching the stamps and pressing them onto the articles,and means forautomatically returning the carriage to initial position,substantially as set forth.

9. In a stamp detaching and affixing ma chine, the combination of anapertnred box, provided with means for feeding a sheet of stamps throughits aperture, for use, means for supporting a pile of sheets in the box,and means consisting of a series of pivoted pushers, a pivoted segmentprotruding through the box, and devices connecting the segment andpushers, said means being adapted for imparting an initial movement tothe uppermost sheet in the box for introducing it to the aforesaidfeeding means, substantially as set forth.

10. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of anapertured box or case, provided with means for supporting a sheet orsheets of stamps therein, a pair of feed-rolls arranged in the aperture,one of said rolls being shiftable relatively to the other,automatically-operated gearing for turning said rolls intermittently,and means for adjusting and setting the other roller and said gearingback for producing a certain movement of the rolls, corresponding withthe Width of a row of stamps, substantially as set forth. I

11. In a stamp detaching and aiiixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding sheets of stamps, a pair of feed-rolls, gearing for saidrolls, such gearing comprising a worm-wheel, a carriage, means forguiding said carriage parallel With said feed-rolls, means on saidcarriage for successively detaching and aflixing the exposed stamps, anda rack-bar fixed to the carriage and meshing With said worm-wheel,substantially as set forth.

12. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, a carriage, means forguiding thecarriage, means, mounted on the carriage for detaching individualstamps, means for supplying moisture, a feed-Worm suitably geared withsaid carriage, means for rotating said feed-Worm in one direction, andmeans for reversing the direction of movement of the feed-worm,substantially as set forth.

13. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, a carriage, means for guiding thecarriage, means, mounted on the carriage, for detaching individualstamps, afeed- Worm suitably geared to said carriage, means, operatedthrough the stamp-detaching means, for rotating said feed-worm in onedirection, whereby the carriage is advanced step by step, means forlimiting said advancing motion to correspond with one stamp, and meansfor automatically reversing the direction of movement of said feed-Wormto return the carriage to original position, substantially as set forth.

14. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, a carriage, means for guiding thecarriage, means, mounted on the carriage, for detaching individualstamps, a feedworm suitably geared with the carriage, a spring-barrel,means, operated through the stamp-detaching means, for storing up powerin said barrel and for causing the turning of the feed-Worm in onedirection, and means operated by the spring-barrel for reversing thedirection of movement of said feed-Worm to re turn the carriage tooriginal position, substantially as set forth.

15. In a stamp detaching and afiixing machine, the combination, of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, a carriage, means for guiding thecarriage, means, mounted on the carriage, for detaching the stamps, afeed-worm suitably geared with the carriage, a toothed actuating-barguided in the carriage, a springbarrel, a toothed or ribbedWinding-shaft operated by said actuating-bar and connected with saidspring-barrel, means for connecting the latter with the feed-worm forintermittently turning the same in one direction, and means for holdingsaid winding-shaft stationary so that the spring-barrel may impart areverse movement to the feed-Worm, substantially as set forth.

16. In a stamp detaching and affixing machine, the combination of meansfor holding a sheet of stamps, a carriage, means for guiding saidcarriage, means, mounted on the carriage for detaching the stamps,mechanism for advancing said carriage step by step and for automaticallyreturning it to original position, and a shifting device operated by apart connected with the detaching devices on JOHN A. CHAMBLISS.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. L. WHEELooK, M. H. WURTZEL.

